Road-machine



JAMES McLAUGHLIN or FARGO, NORTH D'AKQ'IA.

ROAD-MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES MCLAUGHLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fargo, in the county of Cass and State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Road- Ma- I chines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to drags for grading, leveling, and otherwise treating the surface of road ways to fill up depressions and remove projections therefrom.

The invention aims to provide a machine embodying a wheel frame and a drag frame,

the latter being vertically adjustable for.v

lowering the drag for. operating on the road way or to elevate the drag When it is required not to have it' in contact with the road, as when the machine is being transported thereover from place to place.

The invention further aims to provide a machine in which the drag maybe adjusted to vary its pitch as best'suited to the particular nature of the work in hand, and to devise a machine embodying a relatively few number of parts, and which is readily adjustable at a moments notice without requiring the stopping of the machine for this purpose when at work.

The drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, it is to be understood that in adapting the same to meet different conditions, various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the nature of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Referring 'to the accompanying drawings:-

Figure chine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 33 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 1-4 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The machine comprises essentially a wheel frame and a drag frame. Thewheel frame is adapted to have the propelling force applied thereto and receives the work- Specification of Letters Patent.

1 is a top plan'view of a road ma- Patented 0'ct.'14, 1919.

Application filed. December 6, 1918. Serial No. 265,668.

ing parts. The drag frameis vertically adjustable and the drags are angularly ad-.

justable to vary their pitch,

The wheel frame comprlses side barsl which converge toward their front ends, and

which are connected by transverse members 2, 3, and 4:. Suitable wheels are provided and, as shown, are of'the caster type to admit of proper and ready steering of the machine. The main frame is supported upon a front caster wheel 5 and rear caster wheels 6. The stems of the caster wheels are preferably adj'ustablyconnected with the main frame to admit of the latter being adjusted vertically as required. A shaft 7 is mounted transversely upon the rear portions of' the wheel frame and is adapted to be turned so as to effect a vertical adjustment of the drag frame. The shaft 7 is adapted to be rotated by any suitable means for the purpose described more fully hereinafter. A

ratchet wheel 8 is secured to the shaft .7 and a pawl 9 mounted upon the main frame cooperates with the ratchet wheel 8 to pre-' vent backward rotation of the shaft 7 to hold the drag frame elevated in the required adjusted position. w

The drag frame comprises front'and rear transverse bars 10 and 11, uprights or stand ards and longitudinal connecting members.

The bars 10 and 11 are preferably of angle iron. Uprights, or standards 12 and 13 project vertically from the transverse bar 10. The uprights or standards 12 are lo.- eatedat or near the ends of thebar 10,

whereas the upright or standard 13 is disposed midway the ends of the. bar' 10; Corresponding uprights or standards 14.

and 15 project upwardlyfrom the rear bar 11. The standards '11 are disposed at or ends to the lever 16 and standard 13. It

will be understood that by operating the lever 16 the several uprights or standards may be tilted to'the vertical and thereby near the ends of the bar 11. The standard 16 is held in the re uired adusted )os'ition l by means of a hand operated latch 19 and a toothed segment 20, the latter being se cured to the lowermost bar or member 18.

The drag frame is provided with a rear drag 21, and a front drag which comprises elements 22 and 23. The rear drag 21 consists of a flat plate and is secured to the rear transverse bar 11. The element 22 of the front drag consists of a plate which is se- .cured to the front transverse bar and which curves between its longitudinal edges.

The element 23 is similar in formation to the element 22 and is attached to said element. The element 23 sustains the greatest wear, hence is replaceable when worn. The front drag curves rearwardly between its top and bottom longitudinal edges and acts as a scoop to remove projecting portions of the road and distribute the earth. The rear drag 21 acts in the capacity of a leveler and spreader.

The drag frame is adjustable vertically and for this purpose flexible connections 2% are attached at their lower ends to the rear transverse bar 11 and are secured at their upper ends to the shaft 7 and are adapted to wind thereon. Other flexible connections 25 are secured at their lower ends to the front transverse bar 10 and extend over guide pul leys 26 attached to the side bars 1 of the main frame and have their upper rear ends attached to the shaft 7 to wind thereon. Rotation of the shaft 7 winds or unwinds the flexible connections 2% and 25 thereby effecting a vertical adjustment of the drag frame as will be readily understood. hen it is required to transport th machine from one place to another, the drag frame may be elevated so as to clear the surface of the road. By proper adjustment of the drag frame the elevation of the drags may be regulated according to the surface of the road to be prepared.

The foregoing description and the drawings have reference to what may be considered the preferred, or'approve'd, forniof my invention. It is to be understood that I may make such changes'in construction and an rangement and combination of parts, materials, dimensions, et cetera, as may prove expedient and fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Rearward movement of the drag frame is limited when the machine is in operation by means of flexible connections 27 which are attached at their lower ends to the drag frame and at their upper forward ends to the wheel frame. These connections preferably consist of chains and certain links at their upper forward ends engage with hooks provided at the ends of the transverse connectinomember 2.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In aroad machine, a main frame, front and rear caster wheels having their stems adjustably connected with the main frame to admit of its vertical adjustment, a drag frame, connecting means between the drag and main frames to admit of independent vertical adjustment of the drag frame, front and rear drags pivotally mounted on the drag frame and means for adjusting the pitch of the drags.

2. In a road machine, a main frame, forward guide pulleys, a shaft in the rear of the guide pulleys, front and rear drags, a

flexible connection passing over the guide pulleys and attached to the front drag and shaft, a second flexible connection between the .rear drag and shaft, means for turning the shaft to wind the flexible connections thereon and adjust the drags vertically, and means for holding the shaft and drags in the required adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES MoLAUGI-ILIN. Vitnesses JAMES MILLIGAN, W. R. TUCKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. O. 

